How do I pick a trumpet backbore?

The backbore of a trumpet or cornet mouthpiece is the section of a mouthpiece extending from the throat to the exit venturi at the end leading into the leadpipe.

It offers a location in your overall instrument to adjust resistance and how tight a mouthpiece feels.  Having the best resistance matched for you helps you relax and 'lean' against the mouthpiece and instrument, resulting in a much more relaxed approach to playing leading to more flexibility and endurance.

In addition, the internal volume of a backbore can greatly affect intonation.  Between the throat section size and length and the subsequent taper, the overall intonation can be changed.

Typically we group backbore shapes into 3 different shapes:

• Symphonic: a large volume backbore that quickly expands after the throat, offering low resistance.

• Classic: A medium volume backbore shape which expands linearly from the throat to the exist venturi.  

• Commercial: Typically a lower volume backbore which expands slowly or gradually from the throat prior to then expanding to meet the exit venturi.

Each of these offer a different feel and efficiency, and picking which style and size depends on your chest cavity , your oral cavity, your mouthpiece cup and size, and your instrument.  If you have a large, free blowing instrument, you may find yourself preferring a higher resistance, more efficient backbore that offers support but doesn't deaden the sound timbre you can achieve.

And vice versa, if you have a medium or small bore instrument, you may find yourself opening up the backbore of your mouthpiece to better match with your instrument for a very comfortable feel.

Pickett Brass offers a large number of backbore options so to be able to achieve the resistance match necessary to maximize your ease of playing and response.